The return of the light

It will soon be the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. After that the days will start to get a bit longer and the dark nights a bit shorter. I am really looking forward to that as I don’t deal with short dark days and long dark nights very well. I need lots of light in order to function.

Many cultures celebrate the return of the light at this time of the year so I like to join them and celebrate too. The return of the light is a very common theme. I wonder how our ancestors felt at this time of the year. Yet although the days will be longer, here in the UK winter is still to come although we have had a frosty snowy week just now. January and February are often the months when we get snow and lots of ice. But we often also get beautiful clear blue skies and lots of sunshine as well.

This last week here has been one of snow, more snow, rain and then ice. There is still some snow lingering on the grass and roads but there is also a lot of ice making it difficult for me to go out and enjoy the local nature reserve. I have missed this but I have enjoyed looking at the photos of those who could get there. The pools were frozen over some days and the ducks and swans went skating.

So I am really looking forward to the return of the light and will be celebrating this as will many others, alone while some will be celebrating in groups. However you celebrate the return of the light I wish you a wonderful day and a good year to come.

Solstice thoughts

The Winter Solstice is an important event for me. It is the time when I know that the days will soon lengthen again and the Spring will soon be here. I find the short days at this time of the year hard to deal with. I need lots of light in my life and SAD lamps help but are not quite the same as being outside in the light.

The Solstice also gives me hope. I can see that the wheel of the year carries on whatever else is going on in the world. It gives me a solid foundation enabling me to deal with change and change there is going to be very soon. I suspect it will be drastic change too but this foundation that I feel through the turning of the wheel will help me to deal with changes.

It is good to know that whatever we do to our planet she continues to turn and the seasons come and go although maybe not quite the same because of climate change, but they do come and go. This keeps me grounded if you like while everything else changes around me.

After over seventy years on this planet I have learned to deal with changes as there have been rather a lot of them so it is good to feel the turning of the wheel of the year and to work with it as well. I wonder how many more changes I will see during the rest of my life.

Winter Solstice

Here we are again yet it seems not very long since we were last here. The shortest day and longest night are upon us. But somehow this year it does not feel like that time of the year. The weather is exceptionally mild and rather wet. The birds are flying mating games and the spring flowers are out.

In many ways I am not ready for this event but in other ways I have looked forward to it. The dark mornings and nights will become less so and it is one thing that keeps me going. The light will return, the child is born and I can look forward to the longer days.

Later this morning I shall be going to a service of seven lessons and carols. For me many of the carols are very pagan in origin and I love the singing. Afterwards there will be a village social where we share food and conversation. Events like this bring people together which is always a good thing. Sharing food too adds to the atmosphere. I may be a druid but I am able to share events like this. It is important to let go of any feelings against others at this time, to share, to look forward to the future and to respect the faith of others. We have much in common any way and we need to find those common aspects so we understand each other. Let’s use this time to make a better world. Happy Solstice to all my readers. May the returning light bring comfort, joy and love to you all.

Moving forwards with the light

The shortest day brings the return of the light. Now is the time to look forward and to move forward too. It is time to look at what being a druid really means. For me being a druid is not just about connecting to the natural world but is also about the connection between us all. Every one in the world has that divine spark within them even if they do not know it or acknowledge it. Whatever faith or colour, we are connected even if we disagree about the ways of the world.

Others may not think the same way as I do, they may not agree with what I do, they may hate me for what I am and do. But hating them back is not a good way to go. Gandhi said that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Hating others because they think differently, breeds more hate.

Ancients druids were peacemakers. They had love,understanding, tolerance, compassion, respect and knowledge. These are qualities that I hope I am achieving. It is not easy to stand back some times and avoid the conflict but that is my aim. Getting angry is no good either as that makes more anger and anger is no good for any one.

History is repeating itself again, that is the turmoil in our world. Some are provoking others with their actions. The media are good at this, saying and writing things deliberately to provoke others into anger and hate. If you are strong in your beliefs of fairness, tolerance, respect, compassion and love, then you can withstand these attacks.

May this solstice bring you peace, love, understanding, respect for others, tolerance, compassion and knowledge.

The light returns

The shortest day, the Winter Solstice has now passed and the days will soon start to lengthen again. A time to pause for reflection before making plans for the coming Spring. There is much to think about at this time in our world. New ways of seeing things, new ways of living, new ways of doing things, can all change our world for the better.

There is plenty for all on our planet so why is it that some have nothing while others have too much? If you celebrate Christmas did you or are you going to overspend? Did you think carefully before you bought food and gifts? I see so much food bought via the supermarkets and then thrown away after the celebrations because it was not used. There is something wrong with a world where some starve and others throw away unused food. What can we do about this? What can you do personally to avoid waste? Can you restrain yourself to buying only what is needed? If you have food to spare why not donate it to someone who could use it. You can donate unwanted gifts also. Whatever you do, enjoy your celebrations but don’t forget those less fortunate.